Shuttle car



' Feb. 27, 1945. w. R. BECK I SHUTTLE CAR Filedsept; 5o, 194s 3- Sheets-Sheet 1 -l -M lllllllll Il A 1:. k |..|H|||. H u un null. .HHN

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Feb. 27, 1945.4 w R, BECK 2,370,441

SHUTTLE CAR Filed Sept. 30, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. R'. BECK Feb. 27, 1945.

SHUTTLE CARy Filed Sept. 50, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 N @m mm R.. www mm, Nw

lllllll LTT I lf|\| HUIIII Patented Feb.4 27, 1945 ,UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE SHUTTLE CAR William R. Beck, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September 30, 1943, Serial No. 504,357

13 Claims. (Cl. 214-83) This invention relates to improvements in shuttle cars adapted to transport coal or other ma- .terials from the working places of mines underground.

Shuttle cars operating in mines `underground are usually loaded by the loading boom of a face loading machine by extending the loading boom directly into the receiving end of the car. The material is then progressed along the car, as it y is dischargedinto the car by the loading boom,

by movement of the conveyer in the bottom of the car towards the discharge end thereof. In loading a car in this manner, it is not possible to fully load the car at its discharge end, since head room is limited and the length `of the car is considerably greater than twice the length of A the loading boom, leaving a space at the discharge end of the car, which cannot be entirely lled, even where an end lgate is provided at the discharge end of the car.

The principal objects of my present invention are to provide a novel means cooperating with the conveyer of a shuttle car, so arranged as to permit the c'ar to be fully loaded at its discharge end by the loading boom of a face loading machine when operating in conned places of low head room.- f

A further object .of my invention is to provide I a novel and simplied means movable to a position adjacent the receiving end of the car, to .permit the piling up of loose material on the conveyer to the top of the car by means of the loading boom of a loading machine,` which will hold this material in a piled up condition as it is progressed to the discharge end of the car by the Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the discharge end ofthe car, with certain parts broken away and certain other parts shown in horizontal section;

rFigure 4 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the discharge end of the car, with the end gate shown in an open position, to permit material to be discharged from the end of the car;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken through the car and showing the end gate in a closed position;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail partial fragmentary transverse sectional View, showing certain details of the supporting and guide means for the movable end gate;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail partial fragmentary longitudinal sectional View, showing certain details of the means for moving the end gate along the car; and I Figure Bris an enlarged partial fragmentary detail transverse sectional view, showing certain details of the drive connection to the means for moving the movable end gate along the car.

Referring now to the details of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, a coalfhaulage vehicle or shuttle car'is indicated generally at IIJ. Said vehicle consists of an elongated material carrying body II including a pair and the end gate will move with the conveyer,

to cause the conveyer to progressively move this piled up material to the discharge end of the car.

Other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as the following specificationproceeds and with reference to the accompanying of vertically disposed lateral-ly spaced side walls I2, I2 extending the full length of the vehicle and for-ming the side walls of a coal carrying compartment indicated at I3. Said side walls are liared outwardly at the receiving end of the car (not shown), to provide a widened material receiving hopper and to facilitate loading by the boomof a loading machine. The bottom of the material carrying compartment of the car is deiined by a conveyer indicated generally by refer.

ence character I5.

The material carrying body II is supported on two rubber tired drive wheels I 6, IG near the rear end of the car, and two rubber tired steering wheels II,A I'I near the front end o-f the car. Steering is effected by a steering wheel I8 in an operators compartment IBB near the front end of the car to one side of the conveyer. Said body may be constructed and arranged, and the vehicle may be operated and controlled,l in a manner similar to that shown in application Serial No. 456.165, filed by me August 26, 1942,- now Patent No. 2,336,386, granted Deo. 7, 1943, so will not herein be shown or described in detail. Y

The conveyer I5 extends for substantially the full length of the vehicle so that coal can be unloaded mechanical-ly from one end thereof, and is herein shown as being an endless ilight conveyer including a pair of parallel spaced endless chains I9, I9 having a plurality of parallel spaced fiights 20, 2l) mounted therebetween. Said endless chains and flights extend from idlers 2I near the receiving end of the car along a bottom plate 22, connected between the side walls I2, I2 and forming a bottom for the conveyer, to and around drive sprockets 23, 23 on a trans-` verse shaft 24, at the discharge end of the car.

y said transverse shaft is suitably journaled in deaf` ably driven by an electric motor 29, herein shown as being mounted on the outer side of one of the side walls I2 of the vehicle, opposite from the operato-rs platform I 80. Said drive motor issuitably connected to lsaidrdrive shaft through a worm and worm gear reduction', in a casing in- Y dicated generally at 3|, and a chain and sprocket drive 32 driven by the worm gear `of said worm and worm gearreduction; Referringnow in particular to the novel means for causing the vehicle to be in a fully loaded condition at its discharge end, when loaded by the loading boom of a loading machine, and for preventing spillage from the discharge end of the vehicle 'during transportation of the material to a loading station remote from the coal face, a movable end gate 33v is mounted between the side walls I2, I2. Said end gate, as herein shown, is pivotally mounted on a transverse shaft 35, which extends beyond opposite ends thereof and has a sprocket 36 keyed on each of its ends. Said shafts and sprockets extend within recessed compartments 31, 31 formed in the` upper si-des of and extending along said side walls for a greater part of the length thereof. Said recessed oompartments are covered by top cover plates 39, 3S, and have an inclined bottom which slopes towards and opens into the conveyer, to permit the discharge of fine material from said recessed compartments and to prevent the clogging of maand rearwardly along said compartment to an idler I, mounted at the rear end thereof, and forwardly from said idlerto the connecting member 4G to which it is connected. Said end gate may thus be moved along said oar upon rotation g -of said drive sprocket 49, in an obvious manner. Said chain 45 is of the same pitch as the con- ..pitch diameter as the sprocket 23, 'so said endv veyerchain I9 and said sprocket 49 is of the same gatev will travel along the material carrying corn- ."partment I3 at the same rate of speed as the terial therein (see Figures 3, 5 and 6)'. As herein y shown, each sprocket rides on its hub on a pair of spaced rails 40, 4I extending along said compartment `and supporting the hub of eachA sprocket onop-posite sides of the teeth thereof. VSaid rails are provided with suitable openings therealong, to permit the discharge of material from said recessed compartments, Nuts 42, 42 are provided on the ends of said shafts to retain said sprockets thereon.

The sprockets 36, 36 each mesh with a rack 44 mounted on the underside of the top cover plate 39, to holdthe end gate 33 in perpendicular relation with respect to the side walls I2, i2 during travel of said end gate to the discharge end of the conveyer, so said end gate will not bind between said side walls during its movement therealong.

A flexible drive chain 45 is provided to move the end gate 33 along the body Il'. AsV herein shown, adjacent ends of said drive chain are p-ivotally connected to opposite ends of a connecting member 45, pivotally mounted on the end of said shaft 35 adjacent the operators compartment.` Said chain extends from saidy conneoting member along the recessed compartment 31 towards the forward end of the vehicle, to and around an idler 41 mounted at the forward end of the vehicle, and downwardly from said idler, to and around a drive sprocket y45),.freely mounted on the transverse shaft 24. From` said sprocket 49, said chain extends upwardly along a guide shoe tothe recessed compartment 31,

I a stop 54, depending 4from the underside of the top cover 35, to limit rearward movement of said end gate along theside walls I2, l2.

The end gate 33 has a lower end Iportion 34 which extends between the conveyer chains I9,

I9, beneath the tops of the flights 2D, 20 of the conveyer, to a point closely ajacent .the bottom plate 25 (seeFigure 5). Said lower end is adapted to engage the retreating side ofa flight 20 vof the conveyer during its travel along the material carrying body of the Vehicle, so said conveyer flight will hold said end gate in a closed position. When, however, it is desired to open said end gate at the discharge end of the vehicle, it is only necessary to start the conveyer, to move said night away from said end gate and let the coal in the vehicle pivot said end gate upwardly and pass between said end gate and conveyer, as is shown in Figure'l. v

i The drive connection from the transverse drive shaft 24 to the drive sprocket 49A includes a jaw clutch 55. Said clutch includes a clutch member 56 feathered on a lateral extension of said vtransverse shaft.

l Saidclutch yoke, as herein shown, includes a longitudinally extending shaft 5l pivotally mounted in a bearing support member 52j, mounted' on and projecting upwardly from the bottom 'of the operators compartment |80. A hand lever 53 is mounted on the end of said shaft to operate said clutch yoke and engage the jaws 55 with or disengage said jawsfrom the jaws 58. s

A means is provided to automatically Ydisengage the jaws 51 from the jaws 58 when the end gate 33 reaches the discharge end of. the vehicle. Said means, as herein shown, includes a lug 54 projecting from a link of the chain and adapted to en! gage a dog E5 pivotally mounted on the hand lever 63 and extending inwardly therefrom, t0 pivot said hand lever andthe clutch yoke aboutv the axis .of the shaft liil towards the outer sfide of the car and disengage the clutch- 51, to stop movement of the movable end gate 33.` Pivotal movement of said dog with respect to said hand lever'is limited by means of two spaced stops 35, 61 projecting from said hand lever on opposite sides'oi the pivotal axis of said dog, A leaf spring E3 on said dog has engagement with the stop 65 to urge said dog into engagementl with the stop 61. Said spring is of sufficient strength that it will normally hold said dog out of engagement with the ment of said dog, to prevent said lug from passing by said dog, to ascertain that said lug will always be in position to engage said dog at the proper position of the end gate 33 with respect to .the material carrying compartment I3.

In operation, when it is desired to start the loading operation, the motor 29 is started in reverse to drive the conveyer` I towardsthe re- The clutch 55 is then engaged and the motor I advanced towards the discharge end of thecar by progressive movement of the conveyer ,I5 towards the discharge end'of the car, the end gate 33 moving with said conveyer towards the discharge f end of the car, until the lug'.64 engages the Vdog 65, to disengage the clutch 55 and stop movement of said end gate. The motor 29 is then turned off to stop operation of the conveyer I 5. The receiving end of the conveyer may then be fully loaded and the car mayl move towards its discharge station, material being held from spilling from the end thereof during travel of the shuttle car to its discharge station by said movable end gate. When the car reaches'its destination, itis unloaded simply by starting the motor 29, to drive the conveyer in a discharge direction, the conveyer flight -2i) moving away from said end gate, thus permitting the material in the car to open said end lgate and be discharged from the discharge end of the car.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof and the arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting my invention to the specific embodiment illustrated, excepting asfit may be limited in the appended claims. I

I claim as my invention:

1. In a vehiclefor transportingfloose material in mines underground, a wheel mounted material carrying frame open at one end and having a pair of laterally spaced side walls forming a material carrying compartment, an endless conveyer forming a bottom for said compartment, and a movable end gate extending from a position adjacent the tops of said side walls to a position adjacent said conveyer and cooperating with said conveyer and movable therewith to the discharge end of said compartment during the loading operation, to cause material to be loaded thereagainst andl pile up on the conveyer to'fully load said conveyer-beandA end gate towards the discharge end of the vehicle.

v2. In a vehicle for transporting loose'material in mines underground, a wheel mounted material carrying` frame open at one end and having a pair.

of laterally spaced side walls forming a material carrying compartment, an endless conveyer forming abottom for said compartment, and a pivoted end gate mounted between said side walls and extending from a position adjacent the tops of said side walls to a position adjacent said conveyer, andrnovable with the conveyer during the loading operation, to cause material to be loaded thereagainst and pile up on said conveyer against said end gate to cause said conveyer to fully loadsaid vehicle up to said end gate, by the discharge of material in the receiving end thereof, by movement of said conveyer and end gate towards the discharge end of said compartment.

3. In a vehicle for transporting loose material in mines underground, a wheel mounted material 4carrying 4frame openat one end and having a pair of laterally spaced side walls forming'a material carrying compartment, an endless conveyor 1 forming a bottom for said compartment, and-a pivoted end gate for said frame mounted between said side walls adjacent the top sides thereof for movement therealong and extending to and held in aclosed position by a flight of said conveyer during movement along said side walls, so said end gate may initially be positioned near the receiving end of said frame and be progressively moved with said conveyer towards the discharge end thereofA during the loading operation, to hold material piled thereagainst and permit the conveyer to be fully loaded from its receiving end up to said end gate and to progress a full load of material up to said end gate towards the discharge end of said frame.

4. In a vehicle for transporting loose material in mines underground, a wheel mounted material carrying frame open at one end and having a pair of laterally spaced side walls forming a material carrying compartment, an endless conveyer forming a bottom for said compartment, and an end gate for said frame, pivotally mounted be` Y and held from pivotal movement to anopen position by a flight of said couveyer, and power c means for positively moving said end gate along tween said side walls up to said end gate, so the said frame during the loading operation.

5. In a vehicle for ltransporting loose material in mines underground, a wheel mounted material carrying frame open at one end and having laterally spaced side walls forming a material carrying compartment, an endless conveyer forming a bottom for said compartment, and an end gate tor said frame, pivotally mounted between said' side walls adjacent its upper end for movement along said frame with the conveyer and held from pivotal movement to an open position by a ight o f said conveyer, power means for positively moving said end gate along saidframe during the loading operation, and means operable to automatically stop movement of said end gate along said frame, when said end gate. reaches the discharge end of saidvehicle. f

6. In a vehicle for transporting loose material in mines underground, a wheel mounted material carrying frame open at one end and having a pair of laterally spaced side walls forming a material carrying compartment, an endlessconing the loading operation, and being mounted for pivotal movement about a transverse axis disposed 'adjacent its `upper end, to open about ,its upper end` and permit the discharge of material from said vehicle, and means for holding said end `gate from opening during itsl movement along saidframe, and movable With respect toA said-end gate during the discharge of material from said vehicle, to permit said end gate to open when at the discharge end of ksaid frame for the discharge of material from said frame.

7. `Ina'veh'icle for` transporting loose material in mines underground, a Wheel mountedV material carrying Vframe open at one end and having a pair of laterally spaced side Walls forming a material carrying compartment, an endless' conveyer forming a bottom for said compartment and having a plurality of parallelspaced flights, an end gate forL said frame, saidend gate being movable along said frame with the conveyer during the loading operation, and being mounted for pivotal movement about a transverse axis I disposed adjacent its upper end, to open about carrying frame open at one end and having a pair of laterally spaced side Walls forming a material carrying compartment, an endless conveyer forming a bottom for said compartment, an end gate for said frame movable with said conveyer during the loading operation, and means for moving said end gate along said frame at the speed of travel of `said conveyer including 30k -8. In a vehicle for transporting loose material` in mines underground, a Wheel mounted material a drive chain having connection with said end gate and a drive connection from said'conveyer to said chain selectively operable to drive said chain at the speed of said conveyer.

9. In a vehicle for transporting loose material in mines underground, a Wheel mountedmaterial carrying frame open at one end and having laterally spaced side Walls forming a material carrying compartment, an endless conveyer forming a bottom for said compartment, an end gate for said frame movable with said conveyer during the loading operation, and means for moving said end gate along said frame at the speed of travel of said conveyer including a drive chain having connection with saidI end gate rand a drive connection from said conveyer to said chain, selectively operable to drive said chain at the speed of said conveyer, and means automatically operable to positivelydisconnect said drive connection'from said chain, when said end gate reaches including a transverse shaft,` a pinion on each end gatek along said movable alongsaidzframewith the conveyer durend of said shaft supportedand guided for move` 4 ment along Vsaid side Walls, and stationary racks meshing with said pinions, for holding said end gate in substantially perpendicular relation with respect to said side `Walls during movement there along; f

11. In a vehicle for transporting loose material in mines underground, a Wheel mountedmaterial carrying frame fopen at one end and having laterally spaced side Walls forming a material carrying compartment, an endless conveyer forming a bottom for said compartment, an end gate for said frame movable With said conveyer toward `the discharge end of said material carrying compartmentduring theloading operation, and means for pivotally mounting said end gate between said side Walls for movement therealong including a transverse shaft, a pinion on each. end of said shaft supported and guided for movement along said side Walls, stationary racks meshing with said pinions, for holding said end gateA in substantially perpendicular relation With respect to said side Walls, during movement therealong, and flexible drive means having operative connection with said end gate for moving said frame at the speed of said conveyer. i

12. In a vehicle for transporting loose material in mines underground, a Wheel' mounted material carrying frame open at one end and havinglaterally spaced side Walls forming a material carrying compartment, an endless conveyer forming a bottom for said compartment, an end gate for said frame movable with said conveyer during the loadingoperation, and means for pivotally mounting said end gate' between said side Walls for movement therealong including a transverse shaft, a pinion on each end of said shaft supported and lguided for movementl along said side Walls, stationary racks meshing with said pinions, for holding said end gate in substantially perpendicular relation with respect' to said side Walls, during movement therealong, flexible drive means operatively connected With said end gate, and a drive connection from said conveyer to said drive means selectively operable to movesaid end gatealong said side Walls at the speed of said conveyer,

13. In a vehicle for transporting loose material in mines underground, a wheel mounted material carrying frame open at one end and having laterally spaced side Walls forming a material carrying compartment, an endless conveyer forming a bottom` for said compartment, an end gate .for said frame movable with said conveyer during the `loading operation, and means for pivotally. mounting said end gate between said side Walls for movement therealong including a transverse shaft, a pinion on each end of said shaft. supported and guided for movement along said side walls, stationaryracks meshing with saidpinions, forl holding said end gate in substantially perpendicular relation with respect to said side Walls, during movement therealong, flexible drive means having operative connection With said end gate, a drive connection from said conveyer tor said drive means, selctively operable to'move said end' gate along said frame aty the speed of said conveyer, including a clutch member, and means operable to automatically disengage said clutchrnember when said end gate reaches the discharge end of said frame.

. WILLIAM R. BECK. 

